Safety, security and education of young people was the major focus of the Candidates Forum at John A. Logan College Tuesday night.
The event was sponsored by the Southern Illinois Leadership Team of Voices for Illinois Children.
There were six candidates for state office, as well as Senator Dave Luechtefeld who is not running in this year's election. Others participating were Senator Gary Forby, State Rep. Mike Bost, 117th District  candidate Ron Emery, State Senate candidate Ken Burzynski, 115th District candidate Cheryl Graff and Green Party candidate Charlie Howe. State Rep. John Bradley was in Chicago and unable to attend and Brandon Phelps had a prior commitment.
The overall consensus is that the state is a financial crisis that has been several years in the making and nothing is going to change overnight.
A large group of individuals with the Department of Children and Family Services voiced their grave concerns about proposed staffing cuts in that department.
When asking the candidates how they would address this issue, a spokesman for the group said that if these cuts were allowed to take place, "children are going to die."
The current office holders said that they did not believe that the layoffs would take place, or at worst be long-lived. However, the Senate currently has no plans to reconvene before the November veto session and plans are being implemented to begin the layoffs.
The tone of discussion was definitely somber concerning the budget.
"This crisis has been over five years in the making," Bost said. "We have been screaming that the state could not continue to spend more than was being brought in, but no one was listening. Now, the crisis is here."
Senator Luechtefeld was even more outspoke about the situation.
"This is a dangerous time for the budget because of a power struggle between leadership," Luechtefeld said referring to the governor, Speaker Mike Madigan and Senate President Emil Jones. "It's not going to get better because people in charge don't like each other and they want to destroy each other."
In response, Barbara Reardon, representative of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees said children should not be pawns in a political game. AFSME represents employees who will be effected by layoffs.
Benton native Ken Burzynski said that what was needed was "someone who will stand firm and toe-to-toe with these leaders and demand something be done." Burzynski is opposing Senator Gary Forby for the 59th District seat.
Burzynski, a small business owner has also been active in the Franklin County Economic Development group says that creating jobs and expanding economic development is one of his top priorities.
"The climate for business has to change in Illinois," Burzynski said. "We can not continue with a climate that causes good jobs to go to other states."